Bills
| 3.23.22

Should the 9/11 Memorial at the World Trade Center be Designated a National Memorial? (H.R. 3036)

Do you support or oppose this bill?

What is H.R. 3036?

(Updated February 8, 2020)

This bill would officially designate the National September 11 Memorial located at the World Trade Center in New York City, New York as a national memorial. While it would not be a part of the National Park Service, the memorial would be maintained and operated by a private corporation founded for that explicit purpose.

The Dept. of the Interior (DOI) may award a grant of up to $25 million each fiscal year to the National September 11 Memorial and Museum at the World Trade Center Foundation, Inc. for the operation and maintenance of the memorial.

Argument in favor

The 9/11 Memorial at the World Trade Center enables millions of people each year to pay their respects to the victims of the September 11 attacks, and deserves to be considered a national memorial.

Argument opposed

It is unnecessary to designate the 9/11 Memorial as a national memorial on par with the memorials dedicated to past presidents, wars, or other notable individuals and events from American history.

Impact

Visitors to the 9/11 Memorial at the World Trade Center; the National September 11 Memorial and Museum at the World Trade Center Foundation, Inc.;and the Dept. of the Interior.

Cost of H.R. 3036

The CBO estimates that implementing this bill would cost $80 million over the 2017-2021 period and $95 million after 2021, for a total of $175 million.

Additional Info

In-Depth: Sponsoring Rep. Tom MacArthur (R-NJ) introduced this legislation to recognize the 9/11 Memorial at the World Center as a federal memorial, as it allows Americans and people from around the world to honor those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001:

“The hearts of Americans around the country break for the spouses, parents, siblings, and children who lost a loved one on September 11, 2001. We can never forget the tragic events of that day, which have changed our lives forever, and I want to ensure that this memorial site will be here for years to come giving millions of people around the world the chance to honor the lives that were lost that day. A federal recognition of this kind will solidify the memorial’s standing and recognize the endurance of the survivors, the bravery of those that risked their lives to save others, and the power of our free nation to overcome evil with good.”


Of Note: Currently there are 30 national memorials that are administered by the National Park Service (NPS), and another five that are administered by other groups but are affiliated with the NPS.


Media:

Summary by Eric Revell
(Photo Credit: Flickr user DMZ111)